Condenser



(NoModel.)

G. B. LEB. Condenser.

No. 228,909. Patented June15,1sso.

Y VV/oesses: LW@ @u Mf JZ/M @MA Wm w@ N PETERS NITED STATES 1 CHARLES B. LEE, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

CON-DENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,909, dated June 15, 1880.

Application filed May 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. LEE, of Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Condensers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improved condenser. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe upper head, and Fig. 3 is a like view of the lower head. Fig. 4 is a View of the means of attachment of one of the condensing-pipes.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to the construction of surtace-condensers for condensing steam, con densing and cooling ammonia-gas, and other purposes; and it consists in an improved construction of the condenser-heads, and of the manner of securing the tubes and putt-ing on the outside casing.

The object of the invention is to provide a condenser that can be readily taken apart or put together to clean or repair the same without destroying the tubes or disturbing their connection with the other parts 5 also, to secure a condenser that will be capable of standing the extreme high pressure to which itis necessarily subjected without danger of leakage or of straining in case of sudden changes of temperature; and,lastly, to see-ure a large amount of condensing-surface in a small space.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe its construct-ion and manner of use.

In the upper end ofthe condenser is a tubehead, B, which is a casting having a central chamber, B', for the expansion of the gases and the distribution of the same to the tubes U, which are screwed into suitable holes in the head B, and open into the expansion-chamber B'.

The gases are led into the chamber B by a pipe, C, which passes through a stuffing-box, T, in the upper head, R.

The tubes U pass through the follower-plate H, and terminate in stuffing-boxes G' in the lower head, G. The lower head,` G, is secured t0 the follower by means of bolts M.

The casing P is a water-tight vessel, made of strong plate or sheet metal, and is fastened to the heads by means of stud-bolts V and ange-irou W. The joints are made tight by means of packing S.

The chamber D, around the tubes U, is provided with openings Q, Q', for the admission and escape of the cooling liquid or vapor.

The tubes U terminate in annular sockets or stuffing-boxes G in the lower head, G, and on the end of each tube is a screw-collar, J.

Running from the annular stuffing-boxes G', through the head G, are holes G2 which open into the chamber E in the lower head. This chamber is closed by a plate, N, and has an outlet in the pipe F, which passes through the plate.

The steam or gas, when it is condensed in the pipes, flows into the chamber E, whence it passes by the pipe F.

The plate N, secured by means of bolts N', is provided with a packing, O, to render the joint water-tight.

On the end of each tube U, below the collar J, is a rubber ring, I. Above the collar J is a second rubber ring, L, and above the ring L is a loose metallic collar, K. The follower H overlaps the collar K and secures itin the stuffing-box G in the head G.

In putting my condenser together the tubehead B is firmly fastened to a trestle or bench, and the follower H is fastened to another trestle or bench in line .with the head B, and

in such a way that the tubes U may pass through it and be screwed. into the head B. The iron rings K are then slipped onto the tubes, then the rubber rings L, then the metallic collars J are screwed on, and outside of the collars J the rubber rings I are put on. The head G is then put in place and fastened to the follower H by the bolts M, which are screwed up tight enough to draw the follower iirinly down upon the loose collars K to compress and expand the rubber rings L I, so as to make a water-tight joint. The outer shell is then slipped on over the tube head B, and secured to the follower H by means of studbolts. The upper head, R, is then slipped over the pipe C, so as to pass it through the stuffing-box T, and is secured to the shell P by means of bolts passing through the upper IOO flanges. The stuffing-box Tis then packed and the cap T put on by means of bolts, so as to be removable at pleasure.

It will be noticed that the tubes U are fastened rigidly to only one of the heads of the condenser, and that at the other end they terminate in an inner head, B, between which and the head It there is a space or chamber, A. The purpose of this construction is to allow room for the expansion and contraction ofthe tubes under changes of temperature without injury to other parts, thehead B having a longitudinal movement in the casin g, and the stufling-box T permitting the movement of the pipe C without leakage or opening of the joint. The rubber rings L and I (which may also be made of any other suitable material) will compensate for any unequal expansion of the tubes. By this construction the apparatus is able to encounter sudden changes of temperature without injurious strain.

By my construction of the joints I am enabled to put a large number of condensingtubes in a small space and to make the joints perfectly tight. I can also test the joints of the tubes before putting on the casing. The casing may be taken oir to clean orscrape the tubes without disturbing or loosening them, or the whole condenser may be taken apart without disturbin anything except the packnig.

Another advantage consists in the cheapness and simplicity of construction.

Another advantage consists in the strength I am able to give all parts of the apparatus, thereby avoiding weak parts and enabling it to stand extreme pressures.

I can also use the apparatus as a heater, especially for aqua-ammonia, in which case I prefer to have the ammonia enter the tribes through the lower head, G, and pass out through the pipe C.

Ipeferably introduce steam for heating by means of a pipe or pipes through the upper casing-head, R, into the chamber A, whence 1 it passes between the tube-head B and the casing, down around the tubes U, going in the opposite direction to the ammonia. This allows the water produced by the condensation of the steam to fall to the bottom oi' the condenser and'be taken oft' at Q', while the steam does its best work at the point where it is most needed-that is, at the point nearest the discharge ot' the gas. Thus I obtain a most ef'- fective gas-generator. I also use the apparatus, as rst described, for cooling the weak liquor after the gas has been expelled, to prepare it to receive or absorb the gas after it passes through the freezing-coils of a refrigerator.

WhatlI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a tubular condenser or heater, ot' the tubes secured rigidly to one head, a tube-head having an expansion-chainber communicating with the tubes, and supply or discharge pipe attached to the tube-head and extending through a stuffing-box in the other head, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A tubular condenser or heater having the tubes extended through a follower which is fastened by bolts to the head and secured by screw-collars in stuffing-boxes in the heads, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the tubes, the stuffin g-boXes in the head, the loose metallic rings in the boxes, and the follower, the edges of which overlap the rings, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4L. rEhe tubes U, provided with screw-collar J, packingrings I and L, and slip collar IC, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I, the said CHARLES B. LEE, have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES BROGDEN LEE.

Witnesses:

A. EUGENE LYTLE, J osHUA MILLER. 

